Feb 4, 2014

Marbled Rye Bread

I used to think that marbled rye bread was made by using two different rye flours, one white, and one dark. I've since learned that both doughs are the same, with one having been darkened by an added dark colored ingredient. In his earlier version of this bread, Peter Reinhart suggested using caramel color, cocoa, or coffee to color the dark dough. I had used a liquid caramel color and some brown food coloring because I didn't believe adding cocoa or coffee would not add a detectable flavor.

Serendipitously, Fine Cooking just published a newer version of this loaf by Peter Reinhart, and at the same time, the #TwelveLoaves group decided to bake bread containing chocolate. Time to try this bread again.... with the cocoa.

Result? The cocoa did not add a discernible flavor to the bread. Mystery solved and fears abated.

The recipe calls for two to three tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa. I used black cocoa, and although I only used one tablespoon, I probably could have used less based on the look of these loaves.

Most commercial rye bread is flavored with caraway seeds, but you can leave this bread plain or add poppy seeds, orange zest, or other add-ins. I added dried minced onion and was really pleased with the results.

Regarding shaping these loaves, check out this video by Peter Reinhart. Such an awesome teacher.

For the Dark Dough

All of the above ingredients plus 2 to 3 T of cocoa and extra water as needed.

Instructions

In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the ingredients of each dough with a large spoon or the paddle attachment until blended. Switch to the dough hook, and mix on medium for about 5 to 7 minutes, until smooth. Each dough should be tacky, but not sticky.

Form each dough into a ball and place each into an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 90 minutes.

On a surface that has been lightly rubbed with oil, flatten two light and two dark pieces into 6 inch rectangles.

Layer the pieces, light on the bottom, then dark, then light, then dark.

Flatten the pieces together with a rolling pin to press together.

With your hands, roll the dough layers into a loaf and place in the pan. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

Allow the loaves to rise until nearly doubled and they have crested about an inch over the top of the pan, about 60 to 120 minutes.

Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes, rotating halfway through, until the loaves reach an internal temperature of 190 degrees F.

Place the pans on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. De-pan and cool completely.

#TwelveLoaves February:

Chocolate. We were good all January with our Keep it Simple theme, now it's
time to get a little decadent. February #TwelveLoaves is all about Chocolate!

Choose a recipe featuring chocolate. (It could be a bread
accented with chocolate chips, baked with cocoa powder, chocolate spreads,
whatever you love!). Whatever you bake
(yeasted, quick bread, crackers, muffins, grissini, braids, flatbreads, etc)
have fun and let's have a delicious month of bread with chocolate. Let's get baking!

If you’d like to add your bread to the
collection with the Linky Tool this month, here’s what you need to do!

1. When
you post your Twelve Loaves bread on your blog, make sure that you mention
the Twelve Loaves challenge in your blog post; this helps us to get more members
as well as share everyone's posts. Please make sure that your bread is inspired
by the theme!

2. Please
link your post to the linky tool at the bottom of my blog. It must be a bread
baked to the Twelve Loaves theme.

3. Have
your Twelve Loaves bread that you baked this
February, 2014, and posted on your blog by February 28, 2014.

#TwelveLoaves is a monthly bread baking party
created by Lora from Cake Duchess.#TwelveLoaves runs so smoothly thanks to the
help of the lovely Renee from Magnolia Days.
I know... I'm probably an outlier for #TwelveLoaves this month with my marbled rye, even though it does contain chocolate. For a real chocolate fix, check out all of the other fabulous chocolate breads from our bakers.

That looks lovely ! #TwelveLoaves, another bread baking challenge :) I sometimes make a cherry chocolate bread with a sourdough starter, that would be something for here. Hhmmm, maybe, if I have time ...